November 6
This week’s PARCC Byte is from April of last year. I was asked to send it again.

Let’s look at the technology skills students will need to have to interact with the online PARCC Assessment.

Technology skills include:


Click/tap
Select an object

Use text highlighter


Scroll
Select text
Use on-screen calculator
Plot points
Select area
Use on-screen protractor
Drag and drop
Select and drag/slide
Use on-screen ruler
Type with text editor
Unselect
Use video player
Manipulate graphs
Change font size and background colors
Knowing when to select multiple answers (square boxes) and when to select only one (circles)
Use a secure browser
Cut/Paste
General Keyboarding



This site provides the PARCC sample items with the technology skills required for the sample questions, broken down by Grade Level and Content (ELA and Math): http://dotgarman.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/tech-skills-for-parcc-online-state-testing/

Resources
21st Century Skills Maps-These are GREAT toolkits for you to use, sorted by content areas, including sample lesson plans that embed technology and 21st Century Skills
Big6—A six stage model to assist in problem solving and decision-making skill development that embeds technology skills. Includes separate pages for each grade, 1st-8th, High School, and “Advanced”.
Links for students to view and/or practice some PARCC-specific technology skills:
http://parcc.nwoca.org/skill-development and http://parcc.nwoca.org/skills-and-question-types

For Elementary Students: Practice Mouse Skills and http://www.mouseprogram.com/practice.html
Keyboarding websites (lessons and games): http://nextgen.apps.sparcc.org/kb

Would you like to see past PARCC Bytes? Visit the Wikispace here: http://parccbytes.wikispaces.com/

November 20


The Accessibility Features and Accommodations Manual has been updated for this year’s administration. This includes students with disabilities and English learners. Please read the information about these accommodations here: http://www.parcconline.org/accessibility-accommodations-and-fairness

The Manual can be found here: http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/parcc-accessibility-features-accommodations-manual-11-14_final.pdf

Click here for ISBE guidance for creating the PNP, including a sample form (p. 4). http://www.isbe.state.il.us/assessment/pdfs/2015/parcc/pnp-guidance.pdf

This link will take you to the online practice site. http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/#

To see previous PARCC Bytes please visit http://parccbytes.wikispaces.com/